Lost at Sea
02 Teens and Tweens, 45 mins, Chapter 6 Uncharted, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Outside Presenter, Passive/Display
August 10, 2021 0.00 KB 3313 downloads

Partner with an engaging guest speaker from your community to talk about wilderness/ocean survival! The activity portion of this program is based on a popular team building exercise in which participants imagine that they have been stranded on an unpopulated island. When their ship sinks, they’ve had to disperse in three rafts. Luckily, they each have a box of emergency supplies that will help keep them alive. Teens work together to decide which items are most valuable. The team with the best score at the end will survive. Easily adapted to a virtual program.

Suggested runtime: 45 min.

Ride the Waves Mood Tracker
02 Teens and Tweens, 60 mins+, Chapter 6 Uncharted, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Passive/Display
August 10, 2021 0.00 KB 3683 downloads

Discovering new worlds is tough, and it’s important for teens to take care of themselves! Mindfulness helps them to be aware of thoughts and emotions without getting caught up in them, reducing stress in everyday life. One way teens can practice mindfulness is to track their moods. Once they know what stresses them out, they can better respond to those situations. Teens ride the waves of life with this ocean-themed craft so that they can get back to exploring. You could also modify this program to focus on gratitude journals or bullet journals, or create an ocean-themed Zen garden or labyrinth to walk together. See Printables for a meditative mandala to color.

Suggested runtime: 60 min.

Sunken Cities
02 Teens and Tweens, 45-90 mins, Chapter 6 Uncharted, Craft, Low Cost, Passive/Display
August 10, 2021 0.00 KB 3288 downloads

Explore the mysteries of the ocean floor with this fun program all about ancient (or mythical) sunken cities. Stories of Atlantis and other “lost cities” can be found throughout history, and can be recreated on a small scale in your library today!

Suggested runtime: 60–90 min.

Here Be Monsters - Family Map-Making Night
01 Children, 02 Teens and Tweens, 03 Adults, 04 Multigenerational, 45-90 mins, Chapter 6 Uncharted, Craft, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Outreach
August 10, 2021 0.00 KB 5924 downloads

Introduce cartography by hosting an all-ages map-making event! Show maps of real and fictional worlds, then let participants create their own. You could have them map their bedrooms, houses, neighborhoods, or towns, or remake a map from a book or movie. Show old maps that depict sea monsters and uncharted areas, and encourage map-makers to add their own fantastical elements to give them a historical nautical feel. See Resources for map elements, backdrops, and coloring sheets. Don’t forget to discuss what a map key is and why it’s important! A fun all-ages event.

Suggested runtime: 60–90 minutes.

Luau - Make a Hawaiian Lei
01 Children, 45 mins, Chapter 6 Uncharted, Low Cost, Craft, Outreach
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 3176 downloads

Children make Hawaiian leis, then take an imaginary boat ride to the island to be garlanded upon their arrival. See if you can partner with a local dance agency to give a brief hula lesson, or ask a local musician to play simple songs on the ukulele.

Suggested runtime: 45 min.

Lighthouse STEAM Challenge
01 Children, 45 mins, Chapter 6 Uncharted, Craft, Low Cost, Steam
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 4143 downloads

Read a story about a lighthouse, or share fun facts about lighthouses (the National Park Service is a great resource). Then, participants compete to see who can build the tallest lighthouse using paper straws, craft sticks, or index cards. Those who finish early can work on a lighthouse coloring sheet or experiment with Morse Code to send messages to each other (see Printables). This program is easily adapted to Zoom.

Suggested runtime: 45 min.

Seafood Delicacy
03 Adults, Chapter 5 An Ocean of Wonders, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Passive/Display
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 3058 downloads

For a simple passive program, provide printed seafood recipes and encourage participants to share pictures of their finished meals on social media. This could also be expanded into a cookbook club. See Printables for three recipes
prepared by Marcia Literati of Tenafly Public Library, Tenafly, NJ: Nori chips, tuna edamame salad, and shrimp scampi.

Tissue Paper Watercolor
02 Teens and Tweens, 45-90 mins, Chapter 5 An Ocean of Wonders, Craft, Low Cost
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 2479 downloads

Participants use tissue paper to create watercolor backgrounds and place an ocean-themed silhouette on top. Easily modified to fit any ocean theme. This craft requires drying time, so be sure to plan a filler activity.

Suggested runtime: 60–90 min.

Tangram Fish
01 Children, 02 Teens and Tweens, 15-30 mins, Chapter 5 An Ocean of Wonders, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Passive/Display
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 4419 downloads

A tangram is a puzzle in which different designs can be made by arranging geometric shapes. This can be a passive program, a filler for another program, or a game where the fish get progressively more difficult.

Suggested runtime: 30 min.

3-D Fishbowl Crafts
01 Children, 45-90 mins, Chapter 5 An Ocean of Wonders, Craft, Low Cost
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 5377 downloads

In the ocean or in aquariums, let’s talk about fish! Two crafts—an accordion book and a fish tank—are provided
for older and younger children, respectively. Adjust the pictures or create new silhouettes to match any ocean theme.

Suggested runtime: 45–60 min.

Conservation Club
02 Teens and Tweens, 03 Adults, 60 mins+, Game/Activity, Chapter 4 Our Blue Planet, Low Cost
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 1518 downloads

For a conservation book club, gather patrons around a common title to discuss how we can conserve our planet’s waterways. The book club component is easily adapted to fit any age group or population by modifying book choices. A complementary activity is to invite a guest speaker to present on the importance of conservation efforts and provide helpful information that patrons can incorporate into letters to their representatives. After the presentation, patrons can ask questions and participate in a letter-writing effort to draw attention to an important environmental
cause. Both Conservation Club activities are easily adapted to a virtual program.

Suggested runtime: 90 min.

Oceans of Fun Trivia
01 Children, 03 Adults, 02 Teens and Tweens, 15-30 mins, 04 Multigenerational, Game/Activity, Low Cost
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 3713 downloads

Give patrons a chance to learn and share how much they know about the ocean! For a virtual program, use Zoom (or any other live instruction format) and the virtual quiz platform, Kahoot! (or any other sequential presentation software). A Jeopardy-style game would also work well, especially for libraries whose patrons don’t all have access to their own devices. This makes a fun family program. See Printables for quizzes for all age groups.

Suggested runtime: 30 min.

Recycled T-shirt Book Bag
02 Teens and Tweens, 01 Children, 45 mins, Craft, Low Cost, Chapter 4 Our Blue Planet
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 1778 downloads

that is too small or worn? Repurpose it into a bookbag for all your library materials! Ask participants to bring their own t-shirts, but be sure to have some extras on hand. In the spirit of reuse, solicit donations from staff, patrons, or local businesses rather than buying new t-shirts.

Suggested runtime: 45 min.

Engineering Challenge - Building for Hurricanes
02 Teens and Tweens, 60 mins+, Chapter 4 Our Blue Planet, Game/Activity, Low Cost
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 1432 downloads

Children are given simple materials and design requirements, then build a tower as tall as possible that will hold up a tennis ball while resisting the force of wind from a fan. You can modify the materials and requirements based on whatever you have on hand. For example, omit the tennis ball and just see who can build the highest tower out of index cards and tape. Then see which one best withstand the forces of a “hurricane.” For an extra challenge, a spray bottle can be used to simulate rain. Consider running a background video on hurricanes or weather while the children build their towers. This program is based on the activity developed by NASA and Global Precipitation Measurement. See links under Resources to access Printables.

Suggested runtime: 30–60 minutes.

Water Bottle Sea Creatures Design Challenge
01 Children, Chapter 4 Our Blue Planet, 02 Teens and Tweens, Craft, Low Cost, Passive/Display
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 2358 downloads

This is a contest you can run at the beginning of the summer reading program, or make it a take-home component of any program about plastic pollution or recycling. Each child receives a recycled plastic water bottle to turn into a sea creature of their choosing. Prepare take-and-make bags that include various art supplies, or tell them they must use recyclable materials found around their homes to make their creature. Optionally, children could build dioramas as well. One week later, they return entries to the library to be displayed. You can have a committee judge them by age group, or let it be a people’s choice award. Offer prizes such as reusable water bottles, and display the entries all summer for easy, ocean themed décor!

Seven Wonders of the Seven Seas
03 Adults, 45-90 mins, Chapter 3 Seven Seas Infinite Stories, Low Cost, Outside Presenter
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 2764 downloads

In this armchair travel program, participants travel to seven beautiful, unusual, or exotic underwater sites around the world. Create a fun and festive atmosphere, as if you were hosting a bon voyage party by offering themed drinks and/or snacks, and playing music representative of the places that you will “travel” to. Create a PowerPoint slideshow or two for each location, highlighting history, geography, culture, or fascinating details. Easily adapted to a virtual program by utilizing screen sharing capabilities.

Suggested runtime: 60–90 min.

Table Top Role Playing Games - One-Shot Adventures
02 Teens and Tweens, 60 mins+, Chapter 3 Seven Seas Infinite Stories, Game/Activity, Outreach, Low Cost
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 2607 downloads

Have you considered a tabletop role playing game (TTRPG) for your library but think Dungeons and Dragons is too complex for your audience? This program provides a list of games in which creating characters and oneshot adventure gameplay is much easier. This program is also easily run virtually using Discord.

Suggested runtime: 60–120 min.

Play Like Vikings - Hnefetafl
02 Teens and Tweens, 03 Adults, 60 mins+, Chapter 3 Seven Seas Infinite Stories, Craft, Game/Activity, Low Cost
August 9, 2021 0.00 KB 2199 downloads

Make your own Hnefatafl game (also known as Tablut), which the Vikings used to play. This game is over 1600 years old. You could premake several board games and run a Viking-themed games night, or have participants create and decorate their own boards. To expand, discuss other games and activities that Vikings used to play. Or have participants design Viking dragon boats out of construction paper or recycled materials.

Suggested runtime: 90 min.

Vision Boards - Dreams as Vast as the Seven Seas
01 Children, 45-90 mins, Chapter 3 Seven Seas Infinite Stories, Craft, Low Cost, Passive/Display
August 6, 2021 0.00 KB 2702 downloads

Participants learn about vision boards and create one for themselves. Be sure to create a vision board before the
program, or show pictures of different vision boards, to give them ideas! You could cut out images, pictures, and quotes ahead of time, or let participants choose their own from magazines. This could also work as an activity that children complete at home, then bring to the library to share or display. Older children could make bullet journals instead.

Suggested runtime: 45–60 min.

Ocean Day - Honoring the Ocean
01 Children, 02 Teens and Tweens, 60 mins+, Chapter 3 Seven Seas Infinite Stories, Low Cost, Craft
August 6, 2021 0.00 KB 1801 downloads

This program was inspired by the Japanese summertime holiday Ocean Day (also referred to as Marine Day), that honors the ocean as a food source and as a means of transportation. You can teach children about the holiday or alter the program to have an environmental twist. One popular Ocean Day tradition is to light lanterns on the waterfront in Tokyo, so children can make their own paper lanterns with LED lights.

Suggested runtime: 60 min.

A Day in the Life of an Oceanographer or Marine Biologist
03 Adults, 45-90 mins, Chapter 2 Explore New Depths, Low Cost, Outside Presenter, Outdoors
August 6, 2021 0.00 KB 1837 downloads

Oceanographers and marine biologists study all aspects of the ocean, from plants and animals, to chemistry and geology, and more! This program allows participants to learn from and interact with professionals in the marine field. If running in person, provide lots of tactile artifacts such as seashells, whale bones, starfish, etc. As a virtual program, the presenter might even be able to walk participants through their work space or field setting.

Suggested runtime: 60–90 min.

Give Me a Sign! Fun with Diving Sign Language
01 Children, 02 Teens and Tweens, 03 Adults, 04 Multigenerational, 45 mins, Game/Activity, Low Cost
August 6, 2021 0.00 KB 1909 downloads

Learn about diving hand signals, then use them in an “underwater” obstacle course! Easily adaptable for children of all ages by controlling the number of hand signals you learn, or by adjusting the difficulty of the obstacle course. Good for families as well! See Resources for videos created by Allyson Brickner of Southwest Public Libraries in Grove City, OH.

Suggested runtime: 45 min

Shark Lady Suncatcher
01 Children, 45 mins, Chapter 2 Explore New Depths, Craft, Low Cost
August 6, 2021 0.00 KB 3204 downloads

An elementary school-age program that introduces Eugenie Clark, a woman who made a career out of studying sharks. Run a short shark quiz game, then show short YouTube videos or read a picture book. The suncatcher craft is simple and made more so by precutting the tissue paper squares and silhouettes for younger children.

Suggested runtime: 45 minutes.

Pirates of the Past
03 Adults, 04 Multigenerational, Chapter 1 Discover Treasures, Low Cost, Outdoors, Outreach, Passive/Display
August 6, 2021 0.00 KB 2321 downloads

Learn the truth about pirates of the past, and separate the myths and legends from the facts. If you are unable to locate a historian for your program, see Resources for some pirate documentaries. Modify the presentation
or films for younger or multigenerational audiences. Could also be combined with Ahoy, Matey! Talk Like a Pirate Day on page 39 for a multigenerational event.

Secret Message in a Bottle
01 Children, 02 Teens and Tweens, 45-90 mins, Chapter 1 Discover Treasures, Craft, Game/Activity, Low Cost
August 6, 2021 0.00 KB 2286 downloads

Decoding secret messages is sure to be a hit with older children and tweens! First they create their secret codes, then
write secret messages to each other. Have them put their secret messages into empty soda bottles for transport.

Suggested runtime: 45–60 min.

Pirate Scavenger Hunt
01 Children, 02 Teens and Tweens, 03 Adults, 45 mins, Chapter 1 Discover Treasures, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Passive/Display
August 5, 2021 0.00 KB 5904 downloads

Participants explore the library or community looking for treasures! Modify the scavenger hunt list to suit any theme or audience. Participants could also be given a treasure map to follow until they reach the X. Excellent for family nights.

Suggested runtime: 45 min.

Friendship is a Treasure
03 Adults, 01 Children, 02 Teens and Tweens, 45 mins, 04 Multigenerational, Chapter 1 Discover Treasures, Craft, Game/Activity, Low Cost
August 4, 2021 0.00 KB 2850 downloads

After reading The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, discuss friendship and brainstorm ways in which to be a good friend. Work together as a group to write an acrostic poem about friendship on a whiteboard. Alternatively, older children can write their own poems. Children then work on their “friendship fish” art by coloring or decorating a fish to make it sparkle like treasure.

Suggested runtime: 45 minutes.

Animal Crossing - New Horizons Island Hop
02 Teens and Tweens, 15-30 mins, Chapter 1 Discover Treasures, Game/Activity, Low Cost
August 4, 2021 0.00 KB 1456 downloads

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has tons to explore on land and in the ocean! Invite patrons to visit library staff islands for treasures, games, freebies, and more! Make this a one-island journey, or more, if multiple library staff have islands to play. A fun social game for making friends. This is also a good program to use as filler at the end of other programs.

Suggested runtime: 15–30 min.